Duke Energy, in partnership with electric vehicle infrastructure developer Electrada, launched a “fleet mobility microgrid” in Mount Holly, North Carolina, which the company said Nov. 21 is a model for electrification solutions of the fleet.
The charging hub will serve light, medium and heavy-duty fleet electric vehicles, with Daimler Truck North America signed up as a founding participant. The company has a manufacturing facility located near the charging center.
The Duke Energy + Electrada Fleet Mobility microgrid “is open and ready to help with cost savings opportunities, new zero-emission vehicle charging options, and strategic guidance,” Duke Energy President Harry Sideris said in a statement.
The microgrid, which includes solar, hydrogen, battery storage and other generation, includes six total fleet charging stations ranging from 120 kW to 300 kW and two Level 2 chargers. Duke said this is the first US depot designed for medium and heavy trucking with the possibility of charging from the electricity grid or using 100% renewable energy from the integrated microgrid.
“The unique setup also provides the opportunity for stakeholders to test and validate software, vehicle and microgrid interoperability to strengthen the safe electrification of the commercial fleet, even in the most challenging or complex locations,” the company said.
Daimler’s proximity to the electric vehicle charging hub, adjacent to the microgrid, creates an “ideal opportunity” to test and demonstrate the technologies, the company said.
“Our collaboration with Duke Energy and Electrada is about more than infrastructure development – it’s about creating a sustainable and scalable fleet electrification solution,” said Jeff Allen, senior vice president of operations and specialty vehicles at Daimler. “By providing continuous, carbon-free charging, the Fleet Mobility Microgrid enables our inbound logistics partners to operate with minimal environmental impact.”
Duke brought the charging hub online as electric vehicle sales hit a new record and demand for electricity, coming from transportation and other electrification initiatives, rises.
“We expect energy consumption to grow at an average annual rate of nearly 2% over the next 26 years, with approximately 35% of that growth coming from increased adoption of electric vehicles,” Sideris said. “This means that by 2050, energy consumption could be about 50% higher than today.”
Although the growth rate of electric vehicle adoption has slowed, September sales accounted for 9% of new cars sold in the United States, according to Kelly Blue Book.
Second KBB. But that compares with a 46% increase between the first quarter of 2022 and 2023.
“This is not unusual with new technologies. Often, sales initially surge as early adopters jump in with enthusiasm, then slow as more skeptical buyers need convincing,” the automotive data firm said. “The price is improving. The price difference between electric and traditional vehicles narrowed in September, indicating greater affordability.”